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29/09/2022
From the complexity of commodity swaps, to the frenetic pace of US markets, Andrew Tasker has enjoyed a dazzling Rabobank career full of opportunity, challenges and rewards.
And his latest move is proving just as fulfilling.
Andrew has recently returned to Australia after seven years working across commodity markets in St Louis, USA, taking on a senior rural manager position in Western Australia’s Narrogin branch.
Albeit a change of pace, this highly-experienced rural specialist said he couldn’t resist the opportunity to work side-by-side with farmers back on the ground in a rural heartland.
“In markets, you’re at your desk doing a little bit for a lot of people across the whole country, such is the nature of the role, but as a rural manager I’m excited to be able to do a lot, for fewer people, and have a chance to build relationships and make a meaningful contribution to their farm business.”
“My extended family all farmed, and I realised early in life I wanted to work in agriculture,” Andrew explains.
“In my youth, I tried my hand at everything from Jackarooing to wool classing – the people, the atmosphere, and the physical work was interesting, challenging and very rewarding.”
Eventually establishing himself as a physical commodity trader specialising in cotton and grain, based in Orange, followed by Moree and later Western Australia, Andrew then made the move into banking.
Soon Rabobank – and its sole focus on agriculture – began to pique Andrew’s interest, and 10 years ago he made the move across.
“The culture at Rabobank aligned with my purpose – I’d always worked in agriculture, and here I’ve always felt that I’m still very much in the agricultural industry.”
“Rather than working on a dealing room floor with colleagues who are just there because of their finance degree, I’m working with people who are all passionate about agriculture, we’re all in it together with shared values, and for me, Rabobank’s a fit that really works.”
Initially, Andrew worked in a markets and research role based in Perth, contributing to business development through the establishment of the bank’s commodity swaps.
To this day it remains a highlight of his career.
“The opportunity to realise the potential of the swaps business from small beginnings to the trajectory of growth it now enjoys was really exciting. It now employs two people and is a valuable addition to the bank, for which I’m really proud.”
His move to the US represented another golden opportunity.
“I wanted to work in commodity markets, but with the Australian market limited to wheat and canola, I was keen for something different.”
“Rabobank realised this ambition and so I began a US commodity markets role which offered a genuine depth of opportunity specialising in cattle, grain and oilseed, corn, soybean, cotton, dairy markets – you name it!”
His initial impression of working in the US was that “everything was big!”.
“One acre of ground is so highly productive, it’s like our black soils on steroids – everything is on such a large scale, there are more people, more industry, more production.”
Yet despite the vibrancy of the industry, he said US farmers remained refreshingly similar to our Aussie farmers.
During an Australian Rabobank client US grain and cotton tour Andrew fondly recalls that a highlight for many was the simplest of events – a networking event for Aussie and US farmers consisting of a BBQ in a shed.
“They’re your typical down-to-earth, hard-working farmers, no different to in Australia. They’re dealing with the same labour issues, the same seasonal challenges and they’re also looking to gain efficiencies in this new age of agricultural technology.”
After seven years and upon the birth of his first grandchild, Andrew and his wife decided it was time to make the move back to Australia, specifically to regional Western Australia.
Now almost nine months into his new role, Narrogin feels like home – even if he does still get into the car on the wrong side, and occasionally talk about taking a ‘vacation’ or bringing in the ‘trash can’.
“It’s taking a little while to adjust back into Australian life, but it’s wonderful being back in a small town, we go to community events and we’re on a first name basis with lots of locals already, we love exploring the surrounding towns. We’re excited to become part of the community.”
He was also looking forward to working in a region renowned for its agriculture and supporting local farmer’s growth.
“Lots of people can do the nuts and bolts of banking – getting the credit approvals and so forth – but not everyone can think outside the box, and that’s where we differ at Rabobank.”
“How do you grow a business in such a tightly held region? There are so many other ways of thinking and I’m really excited to help farmers fine-tune their enterprises and help support their business in the direction it needs to go.”
“You can drive down a road and everything looks the same – the paddocks, the crops, the infrastructure – but each farming entity is so very different, and having a world view thanks to Rabobank’s global approach, plus my own personal experience, is so valuable.”
“I’ve seen a lot of ways farmers have achieved their goals, and I’m excited to now be part of a local team helping make a genuine impact for our Narrogin clients.”